Aipac’s Spending in Illinois Primaries Tests Limits of Pro-Israel Group’s Influence

Democratic voters in Illinois handed the party’s nominations for five open seats in the House of Representatives to candidates that included Daniel Biss, Evanston’s mayor, and Donna Miller, the Cook county commissioner, after heated and at times bitter campaigns that saw significant spending by outside groups, most controversially the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac). The primaries acted as a test of the style of politics voters were looking for ahead of the midterm elections in November, when Democrats hope to regain control of Congress. All five districts are heavily Democratic, making the primary victors favorites to triumph in the general elections.

Biss Wins in Closely Fought Ninth District Race

Biss, the mayor of Evanston, Illinois, won the race to replace retiring longtime Representative Jan Schakowsky in Illinois’s ninth congressional district. The race in Chicago’s north suburbs was one of the most closely fought primaries, with 15 candidates vying for the nomination. The contest included Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old and former researcher for the leftwing media organization, Media Matters, and Laura Fine, a state senator. Fine drew support from Elect Chicago Women, an outside group reportedly tied to the pro-Israel lobbying group Aipac.

Progressive Groups Criticize Aipac’s Involvement

Alexandra Rojas, executive director of Justice Democrats, called the results a “massive loss for Aipac.” “No amount of shell Pacs or covert funding can hide their toxicity from Democratic voters, their monopoly over this party’s agenda is coming to an finish,” she said. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee celebrated Biss’s nomination as proof “that voters can see through corporate-funded ads that package corporate-backed candidates as bold economic populists.”

Aipac Responds to Criticism

Aipac, which had not formally acknowledged its role in trying to defeat a string of candidates critical of Israel, said on Tuesday that it was “proud to have helped defeat” Abughazaleh, a first-time candidate and Palestinian American who frequently criticized the group and said Israel’s military operations in Gaza amounted to a genocide. Aipac wrote in a post on X, “A great night for the pro-Israel community and a terrible night for anti-Israel candidates.”

Miller Prevails in Second District Race

Ten candidates were standing to replace Robin Kelly in the second congressional district, after she opted to retire from the House and instead run for the US Senate seat vacated by Dick Durbin. But it was Miller, the Cook county commissioner and former health care consultant, who prevailed, according to the Associated Press. The majority Black district covers South Chicago and nearby suburbs, and has been represented by African American lawmakers for decades. Jesse Jackson Jr, the son of the late Jesse Jackson, was hoping for a comeback to the district after he resigned in 2012 amid health issues and an investigation into misuse of campaign funds. Yet, Miller had a cash advantage, with the Chicago Tribune finding that more than half of her donors had previously contributed to Aipac or affiliated groups. Miller sought to distance herself from Aipac.

Other Primary Results

In the seventh district on Chicago’s west side, La Shawn Ford won the nomination to replace Danny Davis, who represented the area since 1997. He prevailed against a dozen candidates, with the Aipac-affiliated United Democracy Project running ads in support of Chicago city treasurer, Melissa Conyears-Ervin. Melissa Bean, a moderate former congresswoman, emerged from an eight-way contest to win the primary to replace Raja Krishnamoorthi, in the eighth congressional district in Chicago’s western suburbs. Bean received support from Elect Chicago Women in the final days of the campaign. The race to replace Jesús “Chuy” García in the fourth district attracted controversy when García announced his retirement at the same time that his chief of staff, Patty García, jumped into the race. Patty García won that primary.

Aipac’s Significant Financial Investment

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has funneled $13.7 million through Super Pacs into Tuesday’s Illinois primaries, according to an investigation by WBEZ, Chicago’s public radio station. Politico reported that Aipac is making a nearly $22 million bet in Illinois that its money, if not its policy views, can still hold sway in Democratic politics.